AFTER Monday night's heavy defeat by Boro Rangers in the North Riding Senior Cup, Richmond Town manager Jonathan Kellett asked for a reaction in what was always going to be a tough game against Darlington Reserves. The players didn't disappoint and took all three points in what was an entertaining game.

The Quakers turned up in their change colours of all purple but as the teams lined up to start the game, the low bright sunshine made visibility a problem and the referee asked Darlington to change into their traditional black and white, so after a few minutes delay the game got under way and it was the visitors who had the first sight on goal, Dale Millburn shooting just high of the target.

The young forward impressed all in a sizeable crowd at Earls Orchard and with 19 minutes played he won his side a penalty after being brought down by Richmond keeper Mark Walker. James Beauchamp scored from the spot despite Walker getting a hand to it.

Joseph Smith had earlier gone close for Darlington.

Richmond had chances through. Scott Ryan curled a shot wide and following terrific work by Ryan and Chris Pattison, Sam Pickersgill, playing in his preferred centre forward role went close.

Town were level after 35 minutes through Simon Pinkney, from a corner straight off the training ground. Dave Gibson provided the ball into the box, with the big centre half getting the vital touch diverting it over the line.

Three minutes later Mike Layfield, full of energy in Richmond's midfield, thought he'd won a penalty but the appeals were waved away, minutes before firing inches too high from just outside the area. Ryan was then denied by a good save by Darlington keeper Joseph Forbes.

Richmond took the lead three minutes before half time through Pattison who smashed the ball into the net after the Quakers defence had failed to deal with Michael Gunnell's long throw into the box.

Smith went close to levelling the scores early into the second period but fired across goal, the only real threat from Darlington in a second period in which at the other end Gibson provided quality balls into the box throughout from both open play and set pieces, one of which substitute Ben Darville, back in the squad following his honeymoon, was disappointed not to do better with when heading over not long after Pickersgill had dragged a shot wide following a good move involving both Gibson and Pinkney.

Tomorrow, Richmond are at home again when Fishburn Park are the visitors for a North Riding County Cup tie kicking off at 2pm.